49 U.S. Code § 31308 - Commercial driver’s license

After consultation with the States, the Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations on minimum uniform standards for the issuance of commercial drivers’ licenses and learner’s permits by the States and for information to be contained on each of the licenses and permits. The standards shall require at a minimum that—

(1)an individual issued a commercial driver’s license—

(A)pass written and driving tests for the operation of a commercial motor vehicle that comply with the minimum standards prescribed by the Secretary under section
31305(a); and

(B)present certification of completion of driver training that meets the requirements established by the Secretary under section
31305(c);

(2)before a commercial driver’s license learner’s permit may be issued to an individual, the individual must pass a written test, that complies with the minimum standards prescribed by the Secretary under section
31305(a), on the operation of the commercial motor vehicle that the individual will be operating under the permit;

(3)the license or learner’s permit be tamperproof to the maximum extent practicable and each license or learner’s permit issued after January 1, 2001, include unique identifiers (which may include biometric identifiers) to minimize fraud and duplication; and

(4)the license or learner’s permit contain—

(A)the name and address of the individual issued the license or learner’s permit and a physical description of the individual;

(B)the social security account number or other number or information the Secretary decides is appropriate to identify the individual;

(C)the class or type of commercial motor vehicle the individual is authorized to operate under the license or learner’s permit;

(D)the name of the State that issued the license or learner’s permit; and

2012—Par. (1). Pub. L. 112–141amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “an individual issued a commercial driver’s license pass written and driving tests for the operation of a commercial motor vehicle that comply with the minimum standards prescribed by the Secretary under section
31305(a) of this title;”.

1998—Par. (2). Pub. L. 105–178inserted before semicolon “and each license issued after January 1, 2001, include unique identifiers (which may include biometric identifiers) to minimize fraud and duplication”.

Effective Date of 2012 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 112–141effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) ofPub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section
101 of Title
23, Highways.

Pub. L. 105–178, title IV, § 4011(c)(2),June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 407, provided that: “Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [June 9, 1998], the Secretary [of Transportation] shall issue regulations to carry out the amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section].”